When a Winter Storm Revealed What Was Hidden Beneath the Floor
On December 23, 2022, a severe winter storm drove water through the skylights of a luxury residence on Prospect Road in North Vancouver. The water saturated the entire lower level — soaking the laminate flooring, drywall, insulation, and baseboards throughout the open-concept living space, kitchen, and hallways. Emergency water extraction and commercial drying equipment were deployed immediately, followed by comprehensive moisture mapping to assess the full extent of damage before any reconstruction could begin.
Eurohouse Construction was engaged to deliver a complete insurance-funded restoration under the requirement that all damaged materials be replaced with "like kind and quality." The scope encompassed full demolition of the affected interior, followed by a ground-up rebuild of the lower level including framing, insulation, vapour barrier, drywall, painting, electrical work, flooring, cabinetry, and stair tread replacement. Pack-out, storage, site protection, and temporary heat were managed throughout the project to protect the homeowner's belongings and maintain livable conditions on the unaffected upper level.
What made this project stand apart was what the demolition revealed. Once the old laminate flooring was stripped away, the subfloor underneath was found to be in extremely poor condition — riddled with holes, significant unevenness, wide gaps between panels, and crumbling edges along walls. This was not damage caused by the storm; it was a pre-existing condition that had been hidden beneath the original flooring for years. Installing new flooring over such a compromised surface would have guaranteed premature failure, squeaking, and an unprofessional finish that would never meet the standard of quality Eurohouse delivers.
Rather than proceed with a subpar result, Eurohouse documented the condition, filed a formal change order, and applied self-levelling compound across the entire lower level to create a perfectly flat, stable substrate. The insurer agreed to cover 25% of this additional work, recognizing that proper subfloor preparation was essential for a lasting restoration. The result speaks for itself: the new laminate flooring sits perfectly flat, with clean transitions between rooms, seamless integration with the custom stair treads, and no compromise in quality anywhere.
Proactive Problem-Solving That Protected the Homeowner's Investment
- Subfloor levelling with self-levelling compound — after discovering the subfloor was in extremely poor condition once the old laminate was removed, Eurohouse levelled the entire lower level to ensure a professional, long-lasting floor installation
- Plywood platforms under kitchen cabinets — the kitchen island and tall cabinets were installed on custom plywood platforms to protect the new floating floor from being pinned, allowing natural expansion and contraction
- Oven PCB replacement — when the oven's circuit board failed during reinstallation, Eurohouse sourced and replaced the component rather than leaving the homeowner with a non-functional appliance
Project Details
Restoration Scope of Work
- Emergency water extraction and drying equipment
- Moisture mapping and damage assessment
- Pack-out, storage, and site protection
- Removal of all damaged laminate flooring, drywall, insulation, and baseboards
- Subfloor levelling with self-levelling compound (Change Order #1)
- Rough framing and structural repairs
- Insulation and vapour barrier installation
- Drywall installation and finishing
- Full interior painting
Finishes and Specialised Work
- New laminate flooring throughout the lower level
- Custom stair tread replacement
- Plywood platforms under kitchen island and tall cabinets
- Kitchen cabinetry reinstallation
- Electrical circuit testing and fixture replacement
- Pot light installation
- Baseboard and trim replacement
- Oven PCB board replacement (Change Order #2)
- Appliance reinstallation and testing
- Temporary heat throughout construction
The Hidden Problem: Subfloor Condition Revealed
Once the water-damaged laminate was stripped, the subfloor beneath was found to be in extremely poor condition — requiring comprehensive levelling before new flooring could be installed to a professional standard
Subfloor Damage
Level Check
Gap at Baseboard
Wall Junction Damage
Patched Hole
Depth Measurement
Construction Progress
From stripped floors and exposed subfloor through stair tread installation and new flooring — documenting the full restoration sequence
Completed Restoration
The finished result: professionally levelled subfloor, new laminate flooring throughout, custom stair treads, and seamless transitions — the homeowner's lower level fully restored to better-than-original condition
The Home Before the Storm
A contemporary luxury residence featuring glass railings, floating staircases, double-height ceilings, marble flooring, and open-concept living — the standard that had to be matched throughout the restoration
Insurance Restoration That Goes Beyond "Good Enough"
Many restoration contractors install new flooring directly over compromised subfloors because the insurance scope doesn't explicitly call it out. At Eurohouse, we document the issue, file the change order, and do the job right — because a professional result matters more than cutting corners. That commitment to quality is why our clients recommend us to their neighbours, their insurance adjusters, and their friends.
Learn about our insurance restoration services →Transparent Change Order Management
Unforeseen conditions are inevitable in restoration work. Eurohouse handles every change order with full documentation, transparent pricing, and proactive communication with both the homeowner and insurer. No surprises. No hidden costs. Just honest construction.
Start your insurance restoration conversation →What the Homeowner Said
"Highly skilled, personable, punctual, respectful, and excellent communicators with a great eye for detail and aesthetics. It's rare to find this calibre of professionals these days. Highly recommended."
— Shachar Ben-Zeev, Prospect Road Homeowner
Dealing With Water Damage?
We navigate the full insurance restoration process — from emergency response through final handover — with the attention to detail that turns a difficult claim into a home that's better than before.
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